A useful study exploring a fascinating field. FONTES ARTIS MUSICAE One comes away from Watt's book with a detailed portrait of Newman the writer and a profound admiration for the way in which the author has painstakingly researched and documented his achievements in the field. BRIO Reveals that...Newman's fascinating non-musical ... Read morebackground that he brought to music criticism...is the secret of Newman's deeply human renaissance qualities as a writer...[This] critical biography erects the intangible monument that no-one reputedly raises in bronze or marble to critics. WAGNER NEWS OF VICTORIA Unpredictably refreshing...Watt has done a very great amount of reading and put these results creditably at our disposal. GRAMOPHONE This is indeed a very good and stimulating read. SOUNDS MAGAZINE An immensely stimulating and readable book, raising many interesting and ever-relevant questions concerning the nature of music biography and criticism, and how they are affected by extra-musical issue of contemporary social and intellectual preoccupation. THE MUSICAL TIMES Thanks to Watt, we know that Newman was personally indebted to his Freethought associates...[this is an] impressively researched book'. David Cormack, THE WAGNER JOURNAL This book is important and will help to keep Newman's contribution to our musical heritage in perspective and alive. SPIRITED, THE GAZETTE OF THE ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL The book is extremely well written, referenced, and produced, and shows an exemplary attention to detail...Paul Watt has done scholars a considerable service, this being the first book to place the whole span of Newman's career and the most significant parts of his writing in both context and continuum. Paul Rodmell, CONTEXT: JOURNAL OF MUSIC RESEARCH Newman's thinking...comes into focus remarkably well...This is a readable book, with plenty to tell us about the development of an influential mind. Stephen Johnson, BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE [A] well-researched, well-written, well-presented book, drawing upon an impressive bibliography, both musicological and more broadly historiographical. NABMSA REVIEWS Ernest Newman was Wagner's most detailed biographer - and despite the age of his four-volume Life Of Richard Wagner it remains indispensable. Ernest Newman finds himself and his work treated to an equally fine biography by Paul Watt. Well worth your attention. THE WAGNERIAN This excellent and detailed biography demands to be consulted in conjunction with Newman's writings. AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW Show Less